Electric switch



C D. PLATT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION man MAYI. 19x9.

1,323,407. Patented Dec. 2,1919.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE n. PLATT, 0E BRIDGEPOBT, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE D. PLATT, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Bridgeport, Connecticut, have inventeda new and useful Electric Switch, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to so-called knifeswitches and the objects of the invention are to provide a simple, practical and easily assembled construction for securely fastening the cross bar which connects the switch blades.

Accordingly, the invention resides in the combination embodying a cross bar having a bearing on the switch blades and headed studs dependent from the cross bar and having hooked extremities engaged about the switch blades. In the preferred construction, the switch blades are provided with openings to receive the hooked extremities andthe parts are assembled by passing the switch blades over the hooked extremities while tilted at an angle and then turning the blades at right angles to the cross bar whereupon they are gripped between the cross bar and the hooked extremities.

The various features of the invention will be better understood from consideration of the accompanying drawing, wherein the inventionis disclosed in one of its practical commercial forms.

In said drawing:

Figure 1, is a side elevation of one of my switches.

Fig. 2, is a broken plan view of the same.

Fig. 3, is a broken perspective view illustrating assemblage of the switch blade and cross bar.

Fig. 4, is a view of these parts in assembled relation with the switch blade shown in section, and dotted in an intermediate position.

The switch bladesare designated 5, and are shown hinged at 6 at one end and cooperating with the stationary contacts 7 at their opposite ends.

8 designates the cross bar which secures the blades in parallelism and which serves as a means for operating the movable switch element. This cross bar is provided near its ends with openings 9 therethrough disposed at one side of the switch blades.

10 designates the securing studs having widened head portions 11 bearing on top of the cross bar, and shank portions ex- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 1, 1919. Serial No. 294,041.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919'.

tending down through the openings in the cross bar and terminating'in the hooked extremities 12, for engagement about the lower-edges of the switch blades. The switch. blades are shown as provided with'openings or notches 13 in their lower. V

edges to receivethe hooked extremities. The engagement of these hooks in these notches serves to anchor the cross. :bar firmly, on the switch blades, holding the same against any longitudinal movement thereon;

In practice, the distance from the inner edge of the notch to the top of the switch blades is just equal to the distance between the base of the hookand the lower face of the crossbar so that when the parts are assembled, the switch blades will be firmly gripped between the'hooks and the cross bar with the shanks of thestuds disposed alongside of and forming braces for the switch blades. The usual method of assemblage is to mountthe securing studs on the cross bar and to then engage the switch blades therewith by passing the blades while tilted. at an angle, as indicated in Fig. 3, over the tips of the hooks, the notches enabling the points of the hooks to clear the I switch blades in this tilted relation. After passing over the points of the hooks, the notched portions seat within said hooks and the blades may then be turned over against the side of the stud, so as to stand ata right angle to the cross bar and be then firmly gripped between the cross bar and the hooked extremities. The inner face of each hook 12 is inclined somewhat so as to form a tapered recess to facilitate the placing of r I the blade 5 as indicated in Fig. 4:. When this movable switch unit is mounted in place on the switch base, the hinge posts confine the switch blades against any tilting action and hence said blades cannot become disengaged from the securing studs.

The securing studs may be cut from flat sheet or strip stock, and the hooks may be formed after the studs have been passed through theopenings in the cross bar. The structure, it will be seen, is simple and strong, and while easily assembled, or disassembled asv the need arises, is at the same time secure and reliable in every way.

I claim 1. In an electric switch,the combination of switch blades, a cross bar seated on said blades and provided with openings therethrough and securing studs having narrow shank portions extended through said openings and bearing against the sides of the switch blades, said studs having heads at their upper ends bearing on top of the cross bar, and hooks at their lower ends engaging the lower edges of the switch blades.

"2. In an electric switch, the combination of a cross bar, securing studs dependent from said cross bar and having hooked extremities spaced from the cross bar, and switch blades engageable between the cross bar and said hooked extremities when tilted at an angle and adapted when righted to fit into the spaces between the cross bar and hooked extremities, and pivot posts holding said blades in position with respect to the cross bar and said studs by such hooked extremities. I

3. In an electric switch, the combination of a cross bar, securing studs dependent from said cross bar and provided with hooked extremities, and switch blades having notches therein to receive the hooked extremities, said blades being engageable over said hooked extremities when tilted at an angle with respect to the cross bar, and adapted when engaged over said hooked extremities to be turned at right angles'to the contact blades pivoted thereto and having rounded edges, a cross bar, hooks having shanks loosely connected with the cross bar and each having its hooked end engagin one edge of a blade to hold it against said crossbar.

5. 'In a switch, a crossbar, a stud secured to each end thereof and having a hook'on its end spaced apart from the bar, switch blades adapted to be assembled with the cross bar and studs by engaging one edge of each blade with the hooks and then tilting the blades against said studs and wedging their opposite edges against said cross bar, stationary posts and vpivotal means of connection between said posts and blades.

6. Ina switch, a cross bar, studs connected thereto and having hooks with inclined tips forming tapered recesses, switch blades seated in said tapered recesses and pivot posts holding the blades in alinement with the studs.

CLARENCE D. PLATT. 

